January 18, 2007

HIGHLITES FROM THE SENATE

SENATOR MARK ZIEMAN

The second week of the legislative session was shortened to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. We then hunkered down to work and committees started firing on all cylinders. Serving as a ranking member on the State Government Committee has allowed me to monitor bills and help make subcommittee assignments.

I have been questioning how the many campaign promises are going to be funded. The term “revenue enhancement”, has become the new catch phrase this year. I don’t think it is a coincidence that many of the bills that contain a tax increase use this term. I suspect the result will be the same, more money taken from hard working Iowans.

A bill that was assigned to State Government Committee is particularly troubling to me. The proposal would repeal the “English as the official language” legislation that was enacted several years ago. As the law now stands, it ensures that government business will be conducted in English, but does not preclude anyone from communicating with others in another language. This issue is sure to spark much heated debate.

I drafted a proposal that would increase county fair funding by $5,000 per year. This may seem like an insignificant amount, however, it is a 50% increase. Our county fairs are continually working to maintain and upgrade their facilities and this will help to that end.

My senate mailbox is filling up with postcards on two subjects, the right-to-work law and the bottle bill. The right-to-work issue is just starting to heat up and I suspect it will come to a full head sometime this session. In the past I have introduced bills that would ease the laws regarding the bottle bill. The opposing sides to this bill are far from reaching common ground.

I will participate in two town meetings on Saturday, January 27th. From 9:00 to 10:00 that morning, I will be at the Farm Bureau in New Hampton. Following that, at 10:30 am Representative Gipp and I will be at the Winneshiek County Farm Bureau in Decorah until around noon. Hope you can join me at one of these locations for an open discussion of legislative issues and concerns.

SENATOR MARK ZIEMAN
Senate District 8

For further information or clarification, please contact me at the Capitol (515) 281-3371 or at my home (563) 864-3104.